At ISS-USA each service is considered one case. You must submit one referral for each service, or multiple referrals for multiple services. You can include more than one child on each referral if all children on the referral are receiving the same service.

*Please note that if you work in social services in a state with whom we have a contract you will need to e-mail us at question@iss-usa.org to request the referral form for your state. The states with whom we have contracts are New Jersey, Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Kansas.

The cost of ISS-USA’s services vary by the type of service and if there are any extraordinary circumstances in the case. For example, if you are requesting a home study in a remote part of a country there may be additional fees in order for the social worker to travel there. If you are requesting multiple services for one child, or sibling group we will do our best to bundle the costs to decrease the per service rate.

The time it takes to complete a service depends on a number of factors. While we do our very best to ensure consistency across our network, some network partners may take longer to complete a service. Natural or manmade disasters can also affect the timing of a case. For example, if you request a service in a country where the rainy season makes some roads impassable the service will be delayed until our partner can reach the location where service is needed.

The service you requested is not one that our partner or we are able to provide.

There is insufficient information on the referral to open the case.

If we are unable to provide a service for the first two reasons we can provide you with a letter of due diligence that shows your effort on behalf of the child in your care. The letter will explain that we received your referral but are unable to open the case because of the two issues noted above.

If there is missing information on the referral we can work with you to gather more information and suggest ways of identifying other sources of information. Please contact us through email: question@iss-usa.org

Outgoing international adoptions can be quite complex and subject to international treaties depending on the country. While ISS-USA does not provide adoption services we are happy to provide you with technical support in the process. Please download our resource guide to Outgoing Adoptions and then e mail us at question@iss-usa.org for additional help.

ISS-USA can provide interstate services in cases where the ICPC (Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children) cannot be invoked. Please download our Resource Guide on the ICPC to determine if your case does not fall under the jurisdiction of the ICPC. If you are ready to refer an interstate case please visit our website to download the referral form and e-mail it to question@iss-usa.org.

*Please note that if you work in social services in a state with whom we have a contract you will need to e mail us at question@iss-usa.org to request the referral form for your state. The states with whom we have contracts are New Jersey, Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Kansas.

The short answer is no, but there are exceptions. During the normal course of a case you cannot contact the ISS partner in the country where services are being requested. The ISS network partners work directly with one another and we discourage any contact between the referring agency in the US and the ISS partner in another country. However, in some complex cases it is necessary to have you talk directly with the service provider in the foreign country. In those instances ISS-USA and the ISS partner in the foreign country will set up a conference call with all parties are on the line at the same time.

It is important that ISS-USA and the ISS partner in the foreign country to be part of, or informed about, all communication taking place to avoid confusion.

It is important that you work with your legal department or an appropriately trained lawyer on how to transfer legal and/or physical custody of a child in your care to a relative in a foreign country. Legal custody means the person or persons with whom the child is placed are able to make legal decisions on matters impacting the child. Physical Custody means the person with whom the child lives. Each country may have different requirements for how this is accomplished. The questions you will want to ask your lawyer include:

Can a custody order for legal guardianship from my agency or from a lawyer in my country be entered into the record of the court with jurisdiction over the child in the foreign country?

Can we transfer physical custody but retain legal custody?

Can my department and the relative in the foreign country have joint legal custody over the child?

Each state has different requirements for eligibility to receive state funds for kinship care. In some states the home in which the child is to be moved to must be licensed according to their department’s regulations. In these states foreign placements are excluded from receiving kinship care funding. In other states the money “follows the child” and foreign placements are included in this.

*Please check with your agency to determine who is eligible to receive kinship care funds.

In the United States citizenship is a birthright. This means anyone born in America has the right to American citizenship and will not lose it unless they legally renounce it.

A U.S. citizen is allowed to have one other citizenship status (dual-citizenship). However, there are some countries that do not allow dual citizenship and require that an individual renounce all other citizenships. You should check on the embassy website of the country to where the child is moving to determine if she obtains citizenship in that country will she have to renounce her US citizenship.